Dr Roberto Biffi MD, Gastro-Intestinal Cancer Surgery Specialist - Milan, Italy

CLINICAL ACITIVITIES CARRIED OUT IN IEO

Since 1994 Dr. Biffi performed more than 5000 major surgical procedures in the field of abdominal oncological surgery, treating esophageal, gastric, small bowel, colo-rectal, anal, liver and pancreatic cancers. His clinical focus has been on extensive application of minimally invasive surgical techniques (laparoscopy and robot-assisted surgery). He has also acquired substantial expertise in the multimodal treatment of abdominal sarcomas, gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) and primary / secondary tumors of kidneys and adrenal glands.

A significant portion of his clinical activity is carried out in close cooperation with the Division of Gynecology Oncologic Surgery, in order to implement multidisciplinary surgical treatment of advanced ovarian cancers within the Ovarian Cancer Center at IEO. Cases are regularly discussed with medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, endoscopists andinterventional radiologists within multidisciplinary groups.

He also developed unique expertise in the field of long-term central venous access for chemotherapy, palliation and nutrition. Since 1994 more than 7500 catheters were implanted by Dr. Biffi and his clinical team at IEO, with substantial research efforts in this field being underway.

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT IN IEO

Area “Surgical Oncology of GI tract”:  “Principle investigator” of an International multi center randomized trial aimed at assessing the impact of a preoperative chemotherapy in locally advanced operable gastric cancer.

Active participation to research programs of adjuvant and neo-adjuvant treatment of colorectal tumors and liver metastases.

Active participation to the ROLARR international  trial (Robotic vs Laparoscopic Rectal Cancer Resection).

Area “Totally implantable central venous access devices”: he concluded a randomized  trial comparing  2 different devices for long-term central venous access in oncology patients.  He  carried out a randomized 3-arm trial for evaluation of the best approach to central veins for longterm chemotherapy.

Area “Artificial nutrition  in oncology”: he participated to a randomized multicenter trial comparing  total parenteral versus enteral nutrition in oncology surgery of GI tract, whose results were published in The Lancet. He coordinated an observational  multicenter national survey on more than  2 hundred advanced oncology patients submitted to oral integration of omega-3 fatty acids, with the aim to assess its impact on nutritional parameters and quality of life.

He concluded a randomized Italian multicenter trial aimed at evaluation of possible effects of parenteral administration of glutamine on postoperative infectious morbidity in surgical oncology patients.

He coordinated a national survey  on the prevalence of calories and protein malnutrition  in oncology Italian outpatients. Now he is running a trial on the impact of preoperatively administered malto-dextrins on postoperative resistance to  insulin and infectious complications in surgical oncology patients.

Area “ Venous thromboembolism in surgical oncology”: he concluded as Co-Investigator a national multicenter survey on more than 2 thousands patients, investigating  prevalence of deep venous thrombosis in surgical oncology patients. Moreover, he participated to  a multicenter International trial enrolling more than 2,500 patients receiving different anti-thrombotic drugs.

PUBLICATIONS

He authored 135 full papers, published in international medical journals, with a total  Impact Factor  (I.F.)  more than  450. He published more than  250 congress proceedings (mostly international). He was  Invited Speaker in a number of events. He authored Guidelines from international scientific societies.

Main scientific topics of research activity:  surgical  oncology of GI tract, robot-assisted abdomino-pelvic surgery, surgery of advanced ovarian cancer, central venous access devices, artificial nutrition, small bowel transplantation.